Employer group urges flexibility for bosses in Employment Act review

File photo dated Nov 6, 2012 of office workers hurrying along an underground linkway that connects buildings to Raffles Place MRT station during rush hour. The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) has warned that the review of Singapore's main labour law must strike a balance between protecting employees and giving flexibility to bosses. -- ST PHOTO: RAJ NADARAJAN

By Janice Heng

The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) has warned that the review of Singapore's main labour law must strike a balance between protecting employees and giving flexibility to bosses.

This is important as business cycles are now shorter, meaning that bosses must be more nimble in responding. Providing more flexibility will also help businesses manage their costs, said SNEF in a statement today.

Its hopes for the review include tweaking overtime laws to allow for off-in-lieu instead of overtime pay, and having flexibility in offering benefits to professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) if that group becomes covered by the Act.

PMEs are now covered by the Act only in the area of salary payment, and only for those earning $4,500 or less a month.